Baker Mayfield humbled by Drew Brees comments

Hue Jackson says plan for Mayfield remains unchanged

Berea, OH (92.3 The Fan) – Drew Brees caught everyone’s attention Wednesday afternoon when he said he thought Baker Mayfield could be better than him.

Including Mayfield’s.

“It's really cool,” Mayfield said Thursday. “It's humbling, but unless I go to work every day, then it's not going to matter. Expectations are one thing, but you've got to do your own. Got to do your own.”

For Mayfield, that bar set by Brees is as high as it gets.

“It doesn't get much higher than that,” Mayfield said. “That's one of the greatest to play of all time. That's the guy that I've had an unbelievable amount of respect for and looked up to just because of where I'm from first and then size and story as well. So I've always enjoyed watching him."

The Saints’ quarterback is an 11-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champion and MVP and has led the NFL in passing 7 times. Brees is ranked third all-time in passing yardage behind Brett Farve and Peyton Manning, but in mere weeks he should pass both and set the new record.

It took only 1 game and Brees' comments before head coach Hue Jackson was peppered with questions about starting Mayfield, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

“I think Drew wants to see Baker do well, like we all do,” Jackson said. “I think when Baker plays he’ll start carving out his career for himself. I think Baker is, I’ve said it since the day we’ve had him, he’s going to have a great career here in Cleveland. Now what that turns into, hopefully it turns into what Drew Brees has done, then we’ll be able to talk about it. Until it happens, I don’t think we can.”

The complement from Brees combined with Tyrod Taylor’s less than impressive debut that saw him complete just 15 of 40 pass attempts in a 21-21 tie with the Steelers last week and Jets rookie Sam Darnold’s impressive debut with the Jets led to the line of questioning Thursday.

“I like our young quarterback a lot, but it didn’t change my mind on anything,” Jackson said.

From Jackson’s point of view, it’s way to early for a quarterback controversy.

“I wouldn’t want to live with 15 for 40 for a long time because I don’t think we’ll be that again, I really don’t,” Jackson said. “I understand the question, but I think that’s a non-issue. Again, first game, chalk it up to what it is. I believe Tyrod will play better.”

Mayfeld’s time will come, just not now.

“I think when we do play him we’ll make a decision as an organization before we put him out there and do what’s right because the most important thing I keep saying is that he’s our future,” Jackson said. “And if he is, let’s not rush this thing.

“I think when everybody saw the numbers last week everybody wanted to go, ‘OK, Tyrod’s out let’s go the other way.’ I don’t think that’s [the way to go]. Let’s slow down a little bit here and let’s get this thing going. You know, Week 1, now here we go to Week 2. Let’s see if we can improve on offense and play better.”